Controllable template synthesis of Ni/Cu nanocable and Ni nanotube arrays: a one-step coelectrodeposition and electrochemical etching method

We describe a new synthetic approach to fabricate Ni/Cu nanocable arrays by co-depositing nickel and copper atoms into the pores of anodic alumina membranes and to fabricate Ni nanotube arrays by selectively etching the Cu cores from the Ni/Cu nanocable arrays. The formation of the Ni-shelled Ni/Cu nanocables is attributed to the Ni ions adsorbed on the pore walls by a chemical complexation through hydroxyl groups. By varying electrodepositon parameters in this technique, we can control the lengths of nanocables and nanotubes, the shell thickness of the nanocables, and the wall thickness and surface morphology of the nanotubes.     

Synthesis of copper-core/carbon-sheath nanocables by a surfactant-assisted hydrothermal reduction/carbonization process

A simple hydrothermal method has been developed for the one-step synthesis of copper-core/carbon-sheath nanocables in solution. The obtained nanostructures were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high-resolution TEM (HRTEM), Raman, and UV-vis spectrum analysis. These copper@carbon nanocables formed through the hydrothermal reduction/carbonization in the presence of surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) acting as the structure-directing agent by hydrothermal treatment. HRTEM and selected-area electron diffraction (SAED) indicate that the resulted Cu nanowires had the preferred [110] growth direction. The influence of the reaction temperature, reaction time, and pH on the final products was investigated in detail. The possible formation mechanism for copper-core/carbon-sheath nanocables was also proposed. Amorphous carbon nanotubes can be obtained by etching the copper core in the nanocables.     

Insulating tubular BN sheathing on semiconducting nanowires

An effective method was developed for generation of insulating tubular boron nitride (BN)-sheathed nanostructures. ZnS nanowires and multilayered Si-SiO2 nanowires were successfully sheathed with insulating tubular BN-forming nanocables. Both the semiconductor nanowire cores and the BN sheaths are crystalline with well-uniform morphologies.     

Covalent attachments of boron nitride nanotubes through a carboxylic linker: Density functional studies

Properties of attached boron nitride (BN) nanotubes based on linking two zigzag nanotubes through a carboxylic (–(CO)O–) linker were investigated by performing density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The linking boron and nitrogen atoms at the edges of two zigzag BN nanotubes were linked to the –(C]O)O– linker to make possible the attachments of two BN nanotubes together. Total energies, energy gaps, dipole moments, linking bond lengths and angles, and quadrupole coupling constants were obtained for the optimized structures to determine the properties of the attached BN nanotubes. The results indicated that different properties could be seen for the investigated models based on their linking status. For quadrupole coupling constants, the most significant changes of parameters were observed for the linking atoms among the investigated models of attached BN nanotubes.     

(BN)n(n≤12)团簇的结构及成键性质

利用遗传算法和Gastreich提出的经验势函数研究了(BN)_n(n≤12)团簇的可能稳定结构, 并对能量较低的异构体在HF/6-31G(d)水平进行优化, 得到了(BN)_n(n≤12)团簇的线状、蒲扇形、单环、双环、三环和笼状结构, 讨论了各种结构的特征及相对稳定性. 分析了BN团簇中原子的成键性质, 在单环结构中, N原子以sp2杂化成键, B原子以sp杂化成键, 而在节点处B原子以sp2杂化成键. (BN)6是唯一没有张力的单环结构.     

Adsorption of the nitrosamine and thionitrosamine molecules as carcinogen compounds on the BN and B3Al N nanotubes: A DFT study

DFT calculations were performed to investigation of the influence of doping three atoms of aluminum on the electronic properties of the (4,0) zigzag boron nitride nanotube (BNNT). Also, adsorption properties of nitrosamine (NA) and thionitrosamine (TNA) molecules as carcinogen agents onto BN and B_Al3N nanotubes were studied. The results show that the B_3AlN nanotube is the most energetically favorable candidates for adsorption of these molecules. Also, B(B_3Al)NNT/TNA complexes are more stable than B(B_3Al)NNT/NA complexes. The HOMO–LUMO gap, electronic chemical potential (μ), hardness (?), softness (S), the maximum amount of electronic charge (ΔN_max) and electrophilicity index (ω) for monomers and complexes in the gas and polar solvent phases were calculated. The results show that the conductivity and reactivity of BNNT increase by doping Al atoms instead of B atoms. Also, the interaction of NA and TNA molecules with BN and B_Al3N nanotubes results in significant changes in the electronic properties of nanotubes. Based on the natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis, in all complexes charge transfer occurs from NA and TNA molecules to nanotubes. Theory of atoms in molecules (AIM) was applied to characterize the nature of interactions in nanotubes. It is predicted that, BN and B_3AlN nanotubes can be used to as sensor for detection of NA and TNA molecules.     

缺陷石墨烯吸附Au、Ag、Cu的第一性原理计算

采用基于密度泛函理论的投影缀加波方法研究了Au、Ag、Cu吸附在缺陷石墨烯单侧和双侧的体系,对吸附体系的吸附能、磁性、电荷转移和电子结构进行了计算和分析.缺陷石墨烯吸附Au、Ag、Cu体系的吸附能比本征石墨烯增加2 eV以上,说明三种金属原子更容易吸附在缺陷位置;吸附体系的电荷密度差分和电子结构的结果表明,Au、Ag、Cu与缺陷石墨烯之间均为化学吸附.计算吸附体系的磁性发现,单侧吸附时三种吸附体系均有磁性,磁矩大约为1μB;双侧吸附时,三种吸附体系磁矩大约为2μB.     

Charge density studies of an inorganic-organic hybrid p-phenylenediammonium tetrachlorocuprate

High quality single crystals of an inorganic-organic hybrid, p-phenylenediammonium tetrachlorocuprate (pPDA:CuCl ₄ ), suitable for high-resolution X-ray data collection, have been crystallized. pPDA:CuCl ₄ crystallizes at special positions in the P2₁/c space group of the monoclinic crystal system with only halves of the moieties in the asymmetric part of the unit cell. This compound forms a hybrid structure consisting of separate inorganic anion and organic cation layers linked by weak N-H???Cl hydrogen bonds. The Cu atoms are located at the centers of symmetry and each of them is surrounded by six chlorine atoms thus forming a tetragonal bipyramid. Two pairs of the chlorine atoms form short Cu-Cl bonds (2.27964(4) and 2.29765(4) Å), whereas the third pair forms the longest Cu-Cl bond (2.90452(4) Å). Experimental and theoretical electron density distributions have been established. There is an excellent agreement between theoretical and experimental properties at bond critical points. The total charge of the organic cation is equal to +1.64 \( \overset{-}{\boldsymbol{e}} \) and is neutralized by the charge of the inorganic anion. The orbital population analysis of the copper 3d electrons and analysis of geometry of the tetrachlorocuprate have been performed and they clearly show presence of the Jahn-Teller effect. Comparison of some experimentally derived parameters such as area and linear density distribution with those calculated on the base of relations derived from literature shows that a longer series of experimental charge density investigations of the hybrid structures should be measured. It should allow for obtaining more reliable relations among different parameters for the hybrid structures with a strong predictive power of such relations. Analysis of residuals of measured intensities of reflections and those resulting from the refined model shows a serious underestimation of esds of measured reflections used in the refinement.     

Adsorption of transition-metal atoms on boron nitride nanotube: a density-functional study

Adsorption of transition atoms on a (8,0) zigzag single-walled boron nitride (BN) nanotube has been investigated using density-functional theory methods. Main focuses have been placed on configurations corresponding to the located minima of the adsorbates, the corresponding binding energies, and the modified electronic properties of the BN nanotubes due to the adsorbates. We have systemically studied a series of metal adsorbates including all 3d transition-metal elements (Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn) and two group-VIIIA transition-metal elements (Pd and Pt). We found that many transition-metal atoms can be chemically adsorbed on the outer surface of the BN nanotubes and that the adsorption process is typically exothermic. Upon adsorption, the binding energies of the Sc, Ti, Ni, Pd, and Pt atoms are relatively high (>1.0 eV), while those of V, Fe, and Co atoms are modest, ranging from 0.62 to 0.92 eV. Mn atom forms a weak bond with the BN nanotube, while Zn atom cannot be chemically adsorbed on the BN nanotube. In most cases, the adsorption of transition-metal atoms can induce certain impurity states within the band gap of the pristine BN nanotube, thereby reducing the band gap. Most metal-adsorbed BN nanotubes exhibit nonzero magnetic moments, contributed largely by the transition-metal atoms.     

Theoretical study of hydrated copper(II) interactions with guanine: a computational density functional theory study

Optimization of the hydrated Cu(II)(N7-guanine) structures revealed a number of minima on the potential energy surface. For selected structures, energy decompositions together with the determination of electronic properties (partial charges and electron spin densities) were performed. In the complexes of guanine with the bare copper cation and that with the monoaqua ligated cation, an electron transfer from guanine to Cu(II) was observed, resulting in a Cu(I)-guanine(+) type of complex. Conformers with two aqua ligands are borderline systems characterized by a Cu partial charge of +0.7e and a similar value of the spin density (0.6e) localized on guanine. When tetracoordination of copper was achieved, only then the prevailing electron spin density is unambiguously localized on copper. The energetic preference of diaqua-Cu-(N7,O6-guanine) over triaqua-Cu-(N7-guanine) was found for the four-coordinate structures. However, the energy difference between these two conformations decreases with the number of water molecules present in the systems, and in complexes with five water molecules this preference is preserved only at DeltaG level where thermal and entropy terms are included.     

Electrostatic Forces Induce Poly(vinyl alcohol)‐Protected Copper Nanoparticles to Form Copper/Poly(vinyl alcohol) Nanocables via Electrospinning

Summary: Copper/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanocables have been successfully obtained by electrospinning a PVA‐protected copper nanoparticle solution. The molar ratio of copper ions to PVA (in terms of VA repeating units) plays an important role in the formation of copper/PVA nanocables. The average diameter of the copper cores and PVA shells is about 100 and 400 nm, respectively. The structures of the copper/PVA nanocables are characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and their formation is confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

TEM image of a copper/PVA nanocable.     

铁纳米线-氮化硼纳米管复合结构的形成及其压缩性质的模拟研究

通过分子动力学理论计算方法对铁纳米线(FeNW)在氮化硼纳米管(BNNT)内的形成及其复合结构(FeNW@BNNT)的压缩性质进行了模拟研究。通过对充以铁原子的BN(5,5)和BN(8,8)纳米管的进行结构优化可以发现,在BN(5,5)纳米管轴线上能生成稳定的一维FeNW,而BN(8,8)纳米管内形成呈螺旋状的三束绞缠的FeNW。其径向分布函数表明在BN(5,5)内生成的FeNW具有良好的一维性且原子分布均匀等特征。通过对BN(5,5)与FeNW@BN(5,5)轴向压缩及其能量分析,可以发现它们虽具有相同屈曲应变,但屈曲前FeNW@BN(5,5)的弹性系数稍大于BN(5,5),且FeNW@BN(5,5)抗压屈曲能力也明显较强。     

Effect of O5+ ion implantation on the electrical and structural properties of Cu nanowires

Ion beam creates changes in the material along their track, not only embody the excellent properties but also tailor new materials. When the ions are implanted into the nanomaterials, they collide with the target atoms and interact through three different phenomena; electron collision, nuclear collision and charge exchange. In the present study, 1 MeV O⁵⁺ ions were implanted in copper nanowires of diameter 80 nm synthesized using template synthesis approach. Electrical and structural properties were recorded using Keithley 2400 series source meter and Rigaku X-ray diffractometer respectively, before and after the implantation. I–V characteristics showed the ohmic behavior with enhancement in conductivity of copper nanowires after implantation. No structural damage in the nanowires was revealed by XRD spectra. The work done can be viewed as a positive aspect of implantation in metallic nanowires especially in 80 nm diameter Cu nanowires and may be utilized to fabricate nanodevices.     

Manipulation of the morphology of semiconductor-based nanostructures from core-shell nanoparticles to nanocables: the case of CdSe/SiO(2)

The morphology of CdSe/SiO(2) was manipulated from core-shell-structured nanoparticles to nanocables by using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. The growth of nanocables, with cores no more than 20 nm in diameter, is initiated by the formation of core-shell nanoparticles with SiO(2) as matrix and CdSe clusters dispersed inside. After the subsequent vaporization of the SiO(2) matrix, the follow-up CdSe vapor crystallizes with the remaining CdSe clusters as nuclei to form CdSe nanowires as the furnace was cooled to 1200 degrees C. During the controlled cooling of the furnace, the SiO vapor re-deposits to sheathe the nanowires. The thickness of the shell and the diameter of core were successfully controlled. The photoluminescence measurements show that the CdSe/SiO(2) nanocables have strong visible-light emission bands located at 590 and 688 nm, which are attributed to the defects induced by SiO(2) sheaths nanowires and the quantum confinement effect of the CdSe, respectively. The UV/Vis absorption spectra of the naked CdSe nanowires further validate the above-mentioned quantum confinement effect. The deterministic growth of these nanocables is very important for the design of the nanodevices based on them.     

(AB)_8(AB=BN, AlP, GaAs, InSb)团簇环状结构与性质的密度泛函理论研究

用杂化密度泛函B3LYP方法研究了(AB)8(AB=BN,AlP,GaAs,InSb)团簇环形结构的平衡几何构型、电子结构、振动特性以及极化率。计算结果表明,(AB)8团簇的双层环状结构中,每个A(B)原子都与3个B(A)原子成键,且Ⅴ族元素的原子比Ⅲ族元素的原子更接近团簇中心,(BN)8、(AlP)8、(GaAs)8、(InSb)8的平均极化率依次增大,IR和Raman谱峰发生红移。另外,讨论了热力学稳定性和动力学稳定性的变化。     

Atomically dispersed copper species on ceria for the low-temperature water-gas shift reaction

The structure of copper species, dispersed on nanostructured ceria(particles, rods and cubes), was analyzed by scanning transmission electron microscopy(STEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS). It was interestingly found that the density of surface oxygen vacancies(or defect sites), induced by the shape of ceria, determined the geometrical structure and the chemical state of copper species. Atomically dispersed species and monolayers containing few to tens of atoms were formed on ceria particles and rods owing to the enriched anchoring sites, but copper clusters/particles co-existed, together with the highly dispersed atoms and monolayers, on cubic ceria. The atomically dispersed copper sites and monolayers interacted strongly with ceria, involving a remarkable charge transfer from copper to ceria at their interfaces. The activity for the low-temperature watergas shift reaction of the Cu/CeO_2 catalysts was associated with the fraction of the positively-charged copper atoms, demonstrating that the active sites could be tuned by dispersing Cu species on shape-controlled ceria particles.     

First-principles study on the adhesive and electronic property of c-BN(111)/Cu(111) interface

The interface properties of c-BN/Cu composite play an important role in its application. In this work, we employed first-principles calculation to investigate the bonding properties and electronic characteristics of the c-BN(111)/Cu(111) interface. The adhesion properties, partial density of states (PDOS), charge density, and charge density difference of different interfaces were analyzed. The results show that the interface of B-termination “OT” stacking mode is the most stable one. The density of states at the c-BN(111)/Cu(111) interface is similar to that of c-BN bulk phase, indicating that the electronic states of the c-BN layer are not affected by the Cu atoms. The PDOS diagram shows that the 2p orbital of B atoms and the 2p orbital of N atoms are hybridized in the c-BN layer. Besides, 2p orbital of B(N) atoms and 3d orbital of Cu atoms are hybridized in the interface. The covalent bonds and ionic bonds in the interface of N-termination and B-termination OT stacking mode structures are stronger than that of “SL” and “TL” stacking mode. So, the OT stacking mode has larger adhesive energy. Furthermore, Cu and c-BN can form a good coherent interface, which can be used to prepare c-BN/Cu composites and functional materials with excellent mechanical properties.     

Decoration of nitrogen vacancies by oxygen atoms in boron nitride nanotubes

Decoration of nitrogen vacancies by oxygen atoms has been studied by near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) around B K-edge in several boron nitride (BN) structures, including bamboo-like and multi-walled BN nanotubes. Breaking of B-N bonds and formation of nitrogen vacancies under low-energy ion bombardment reduces oxidation resistance of BN structures and promotes an efficient oxygen-healing mechanism, in full agreement with some recent theoretical predictions. The formation of mixed O-B-N and B-O bonds is clearly identified by well-resolved peaks in NEXAFS spectra of excited boron atoms.     

Single- and double-shelled coaxial nanocables of GaP with silicon oxide and carbon

Coaxial nanocables of gallium phosphide (GaP) core with three different-typed single and double shells (i.e., silicon oxide (SiO(x)), carbon (C), and SiO(x)/C) were exclusively synthesized by the chemical vapor deposition method. The GaP/SiO(x)) nanocables were directly grown on gold-deposited silicon substrates. Deposition of C on the GaP nanowires and GaP/SiO(x) nanocables produces the GaP/C and GaP/SiO(x)/C nanocables, respectively. The outer diameter of the nanocables is <50 nm. The thickness and crystallinity of the C outer layers were controllable by the growth conditions. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and photoluminescence reveal that the outer layer formation reduces the surface defects of GaP nanowires. A great enhancement of the conductivity due to the C outer layers has been measured by the four-probe method. The growth process of these nanocables has been discussed on the basis of the vapor-liquid-solid mechanism.     

聚吡咯/硫化镉核壳纳米线的制备及整流特性

以无机多孔氧化铝膜为模板,利用气相沉积和原位电化学沉积方法成功地制备了有机-无机杂化聚吡咯/硫化镉核壳纳米线;采用扫描电子显微镜和透射电子显微镜分析了聚吡咯/硫化镉核壳纳米线的表面形貌和微结构.结果表明,内部的聚吡咯纳米线紧紧依附在外部的硫化镉纳米管中,并且硫化镉纳米管被聚吡咯全部填充.与此同时,在聚吡咯/硫化镉核壳纳米线中,外部硫化镉壳与内部聚吡咯核之间存在电荷转移;聚吡咯和硫化镉之间形成有机-无机杂化的P-N界面,从而导致单根聚吡咯/硫化镉核壳纳米线显示出不同于外部壳和内部核的整流特性.